SRINAGAR: In one of the deadliest attacks on the police in the state in recent months, militants shot dead four policemen in Shopian district of south Kashmir hours after security forces killed Altaf Ahmad Dar, a top commander of the Hizbul Mujahedeen, and his associate, in neighbouring Anantnag. Thus far this year, 33 policemen have been killed by militants across the state.

The policemen were escorting a deputy superintendent of police when militants fired on them from an orchard near a fruit market in Bongam. The militants took away the rifles of three dead policemen.

A search-and-cordon operation was launched in the area immediately.

Earlier on Wednesday, two militants were killed when the army and police launched an operation in Munward village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. “Anantnag encounter completed, two bodies of militants along with two weapons recovered from the site. It was a clean operation with precision,’’ said SP Vaid Jammu and Kashmir’s director general of police.

According to a police spokesperson, militants fired on security forces in Anantnag. “In the ensuing encounter two militants were killed who have been identified as Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Kachroo alias Moin of Hawoora Mishipora and Umar Rashid Wani of Khudwani Kulgam.’’

Police said Dar was one of the most important commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen. “The militant had a long history of criminal records since 2007,” the spokesperson added.__Hindustan Times